Indigenous land rights play a vital role in protecting the Amazon rainforest. Here's how

Jun 8, 2023

Indigenous land rights are an important tool for curbing deforestation and restoring degraded forests in the Brazilian Amazon. Image: Pexels/Tom Fisk

Roxanne Hoorn

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Indigenous village of the Huni Kuin people in Jordão, Acre. Indigenous territories with secure land rights not only reduce deforestation inside their lands in the Brazilian Amazon, but also lead to higher secondary forest growth on previously deforested areas. Image: AgniBa via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Heat spots in areas with Prodes warnings, next to the borders of the Kaxarari Indigenous territory, in Labrea, Amazonas state. Image: Christian Braga / Greenpeace

Mosaic of native plant seeds before they are mixed together for the muvuca planting. Image: Conservation International/Inaê Brandão

Map showing total forest loss in the original Amazon forest biome. An estimated 13.2% has been lost due to deforestation and other causes. Image: Amazon Conservation Association and MAAP

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After 40 years, secondary forests can recover an average of 88% of their species richness, according to studies. Image: Bruce Potter via Flickr (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

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